Parents and students praise teachers across Sioux Falls School District 49-5 during recognition remarks

Parents, students and community members offered a string of endorsements for teachers in the Sioux Falls School District 49-5, describing how specific instructors boosted confidence, led hands-on projects and connected students with local employers.

A parent (Speaker 1) said the district’s special-education teacher "has worked with Eli all 4 years," and that she "takes time to listen to us" and "answers all of our questions," crediting the teacher with helping Eli advocate for himself and with supporting parents as part of the RISE program. Another parent (Speaker 2) added that the teacher "always does more" and singled out the extra effort needed for students in special education.

At Eugene Field Elementary, a parent (Speaker 4) praised arts teacher Miss Megan for creating projects that make art relevant to students’ lives, from a third-grade musical to a collaboration with a local bakery. "Our kids got to create some different art pieces that were part of a collaborative program at the pavilion," the parent said, noting that students returned home excited about artists and creative work.

A student (Speaker 5) described science activities led by Miss Cruz — including a bear simulation and dissecting owl pellets — and recommended her for teacher of the year: "Miss Cruz should be teacher of the year because she's just, like, she needs recognition for how good of a teacher she is." The student said Miss Cruz notices when pupils are upset and provides personal support.

A parent (Speaker 6) nominated first-grade teacher Adriel Ledesma, calling him "the most worthy candidate for teacher of the year because of his creativity, his innovation" and his attention to students’ emotional and social learning. The parent said classroom practices — like prompting students to "think before you act" and emphasizing teamwork — produced noticeable differences at home.

Remarks also highlighted career and technical instruction. Speaker 3 described how Mister Mikulski builds relationships with local businesses (including Sioux Falls Ford and Billion Auto) so students can shadow and gain part-time work experience, and praised Mister McCall’s long service and mechanical expertise transferred from military repair work into classroom instruction.

The transcript records testimony and nominations across multiple grades and programs but does not include a formal motion or vote on awards or policy. No funding amounts, policy changes or implementation directives are specified in the provided segments.